As the U.S. House of Representatives is speeding up voting this week on up to 28 bills that target China, a former U.S. diplomat said on Thursday that the U.S. legislative push against China is unlikely to signal decoupling between the world's two largest economies.
Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives once again focus on curbing China in the first week after their summer break, approving multiple China-related bills that restrict Chinese companies in areas such as agriculture and electric vehicles.
Speaking on a high-end interview on China-U.S. relations at the three-day Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Rick Waters, former U.S. State Department China coordinator explained the complexities of the U.S. legislative process and the ongoing U.S.-China trade relationship.
"They may be voted on, but they may never pass into law. I'll say Congress, especially the House, passes a lot of things that never actually find their way into formal legislation. In the House of Representatives, you will go through these debates about how do you balance questions of security with openness," he said.
While more measures against China might be forthcoming, Waters noted that a full separation of the two economic giants is unlikely, given their deep trade connections.
"So I do think more is coming, but I think that is still different in my view from a decoupling. Because today, as we sit here, the U.S. and China still have a 575-billion-dollar bilateral trading relationship," he said.
Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security and defense forum in Asia-Pacific with significant international influence. This year's forum, themed "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future", is taking place in Beijing from Thursday to Saturday.
US legislative push against China unlikely to signal decoupling: former US diplomat
China Media Group (CMG)'s much-anticipated Mid-Autumn Festival Gala aired at 20:00 Beijing Time on Tuesday, captivating a global audience with its poetic and artistic celebrations of the festival.
The gala, known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was filmed in Shenyang City, the provincial capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. This city, rich in cultural heritage and industrial significance, boasts a 2,300-year history, three world heritage sites, and over 1,500 historical landmarks.
Themed "Moon Culture," the gala presented over 30 artistic performances, including poems, songs, dances, and operas, vividly reflecting Chinese traditional culture with a modern flair.
The program was divided into three chapters, namely "Moon Rise," "Moon Light," and "Bright Moon."
"Moon Rise" opened with a song adapted from a poem by Li Qingzhao, a Song Dynasty (960-1279) female poet, celebrating the sweet osmanthus flower, which blooms at this time of year and has been cultivated in China for over 2,500 years.
This section also featured performances blending traditional Chinese music with contemporary styles, emphasizing family, patriotism, and nostalgia, including a performance featuring popular Kazakhstani singer Dimash Qudaibergen.
The second chapter, "Moon Light," highlighted traditional Chinese culture and Shenyang's local charm with acts which included ancient shadow puppetry and errenzhuan, a two-person stand-up comedy unique to northeast China.
Notable performances included pop star Li Yuchun's duet with a child, celebrating maternal love, and singer Tan Weiwei's performance with Olympic champions Wu Dajing and Deng Yawen, honoring dream chasers. Hungarian pianist Balazs Havasi joined Chinese artists for a stirring performance, spreading a message of warmth and romance.
"Moon Bright," the final chapter, featured classic songs and reunion-themed narratives.
Highlights included a musical adaptation of Tang Dynasty poem "Qing Ping Diao” by poet Li Bai (701-762), which captures the essence of ancient Chinese beauty. A moving performance by a middle-school chorus from Macao Special Administrative Region expressed students' love for the country and hopes for a brighter future.
French musician Richard Clayderman enchanted the audience with his timeless "A Comme Amour" and a breathtaking rendition of "The Butterfly Lovers" concerto, which intertwines Chinese folklore with Western romantic composition.
The gala is now available on various China Central Television (CCTV) channels and new media platforms.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolizing family reunion, was celebrated on Tuesday, September 17.
CMG's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala celebrates traditions with star-studded performances
